Purchasing 9mm striker pistol: M&P, Glock, Ruger SR9 -- what else should I look at?

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Twinkie1982

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Hey, NES.

I am interviewing for my Lowell LTC (expecting restrictions), and have determined I will be purchasing a 9mm pistol once I have my license.

I've fired numerous 9mm pistols at local ranges and have come to the conclusion I prefer a striker-based design. Based on comfort and shooting experiences, I've narrowed my choices down to:

M&P 9mm
Glock 17
Ruger SR9

The M&P seems like a real winner based on comfort and popularity.

The SR9 was fun to shoot, but it doesn't seem to have the adoption rate of the M&P and Glock. I want a pistol that is relatively common in case SHTF and I am forced to scavenge for parts someday.



Are there any other striker fired pistols I should be evaluating? It must be:


  • Widely adopted
  • Striker fired
  • 9mm, or easy to convert to 9mm
 
I have a M&P 9c that I really like now that the trigger is fixed. I went with the Apex kit, but you do know about the trigger thing, right? Also there are numerous threads floating around about a modification to the mags in order for them to more easily fit 10 rounds. It's an easy fix as long as you know about it.

It would require hunting on your part (i.e. can't just buy from a dealer) but I've heard really good things about the Springfield XD line, which I believe fits your criteria.
 
In a SHTF scenario the Glock is the clear winner being the most adopted, versatile 9mm.

Though I have never shot one, I wouldn't be surprised if the M&P is more "comfortable" to shoot.

Though the M&P loses out in firepower if you live in MA due to the fact that you can only get low capacity magazine for it.
 
Enzo said:
Don't know if you're going to cc but if so I'd change the G17 for a G19 which IMO is one of the most reliable and carried pistols around.
Click to expand...

Maybe if you can get a Gen 2 or 3.

Too many people I have talked to with Gen 4's with problems....

I don't know anybody with issues with Gen 2 or 3...

But I still say M&P ALL THE WAY!
 
Enzo said:
Don't know if you're going to cc but if so I'd change the G17 for a G19 which IMO is one of the most reliable and carried pistols around.
Click to expand...

OP is from Lowell so I'm going to guess his CC will be limited. [sad] I love my M&P9c with a BEC trigger job.
 
I have carried a M&P full-size, G19 Gen 4, Sig 229 among others and my own experience is that with the right holster and belt they are all manageable. That said the G19 is what stayed and I'm currently looking at the Shield in 9mm though it's too new to have the adoption or reliability of the others on your list...
 
I have an SR9c and love it, it's an excellent CCW. I also have a Gen4 G19 which I carry sometimes and it has been very reliable. My G17 doesn't really get much use , the G19 is a perfect balance of everything you want in a gun. The Gen3 is insanely reliable.
 
ColdDayInHell said:
I have an SR9c and love it, it's an excellent CCW. I also have a Gen4 G19 which I carry sometimes and it has been very reliable. My G17 doesn't really get much use , the G19 is a perfect balance of everything you want in a gun. The Gen3 is insanely reliable.
Click to expand...

I am very much in the same boat. I had an SR9c, and now primarily carry a Gen4 19. They're all great guns (including the XD series), but for me the Glock just fits my hand way better.

And in the so-called "SHTF" scenario the Glock wins hands down since there are so many out there, and virtually all of the internals are interchangeable.
 
Last edited:
Twinkie1982 said:
Hey, NES.

I am interviewing for my Lowell LTC (expecting restrictions), and have determined I will be purchasing a 9mm pistol once I have my license.

I've fired numerous 9mm pistols at local ranges and have come to the conclusion I prefer a striker-based design. Based on comfort and shooting experiences, I've narrowed my choices down to:

M&P 9mm
Glock 17
Ruger SR9

The M&P seems like a real winner based on comfort and popularity.

The SR9 was fun to shoot, but it doesn't seem to have the adoption rate of the M&P and Glock. I want a pistol that is relatively common in case SHTF and I am forced to scavenge for parts someday.



Are there any other striker fired pistols I should be evaluating? It must be:


  • Widely adopted
  • Striker fired
  • 9mm, or easy to convert to 9mm
Click to expand...


I've owned two M&P's and I really liked them- before I bought my first Glock. I always thought that things like the need for a trigger job right out of the box, a magazine disconnect, and needing a tool to take the gun apart weren't bad things. After owning a Glock my opinion of all that has changed. I like the factory Glock trigger better than the M&P with a 75.00 trigger job. The G19 fits my hand much better than the M&P9c and shoots much better for me. I've fired the SR9 and I liked the ergonomics and the trigger but the safety is a no go for me.
The bottom line here is that people can go on and on until the end of time about why they think one gun is better than the other. What really matters is what you like and what works best for you personally.
 
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IMHO buy a Glock. I work part time for a gun store and by far the sidearm that comes in the door to be traded for something else is the M+P pistols. Glocks have a proven track record for being reliable and tough.
Most complaints about the M+P are the triggers and the quality control or lack of at SW. Again just MO.
 
The M&P9 even with a trigger job is not fun for me to shoot. And I've shot a few of them, I can't really figure out what I don't like about it. My SR9c has more controls but is still a fun range gun. And my G19, everyone loves shooting it.
 
Had an M&P9, did not like it. MA trigger is horrible and did not feel like spending the money to fix it so I sold it.

Had a SR9 as well. Liked the trigger and it shot well, but the one I had was not a tight fit gun, but I didn't expect that from a $400 gun. And I am not a big fan of the LRI on top of the gun. Sold it.

I currently have 2 Glock 19 Gen 4s. With a 4.5lb Ghost connecter and a little polishing, I love the triggers. My early model Gen4 had many issues just like everyone has stated. I had to replace the extractor, ejector, and the RSA. Now it works great. My new model Gen4 worked flawlessly out of the box. So I assume Glock has fixed their early issues.

I want to try out a FN FNS9. I hear great things about the new FN striker pistols. And I currently have a FNX and love it. But this is MA and these are tough to find.

And personally I hate safeties on striker fired pistols.
 
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northframingham said:
Too many people I have talked to with Gen 4's with problems....

I don't know anybody with issues with Gen 2 or 3...
Click to expand...

There were a lot of people having issues with the early gen4 recoil sping but that has since been resolved and even if you find one that has the old spring, you simply call Glock and they ship you a new, revised one for free.
 
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winter said:
There were a lot of people having issues with the early gen4 recoil sping but that has since been resolved and even if you find one that has the old spring, you simply call Glock and they ship you a new, revised one for free.
Click to expand...

There were some guns that had WAY more problems than just the RSA.

I know because I own one of those guns. I sent it to Glock, however, and they made it right.

-Mike
 
Well if you wait long enough, i Gave my brother the Final Ultimatum. I told him , either get your license by thanksgiving or im going to sell the glock 17 i have sitting here for you.. (btw its free) and this kid can't even take the time to spend 100 dollars.. (probably only 2 or 3 bar tabs ) at his track record.. to be able to pay the 100 bucks for a license.. so you may soon see a glock 17 gen 3, that has been a safe queen for over half a year, its in very nice condition. (i'll probably replace it with a Glock 30SF :) if i do sell it.
 

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